2012 – Happy New Year everyone!
2011 finished on an amazing high, as I had to return early from my trip to Vietnam on board Orion II to attend a reception for Adventurers and Explorers with Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace. One of the best nights of my life!
I'm currently at home in North Wales, preparing for a busy few months in the field. In mid February, I'm very excited to be travelling to the Amazon with Seadream Cruises, from Barbados up the Amazon as far as Iquitos, Peru, before making the return journey to the Caribbean.
I then have an exciting few months working for Orion Expeditions on board Orion II in Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East. Wonderful photographic opportunities!
When I'm onboard expedition ships, I really enjoy helping guests with their photography, and so am delighted to have been approached by Steppes Discovery to do something similar on land! Steppes Discovery and Steppes Travel offer some exceptional wildlife experiences whilst supporting local conservation and community projects around the world. So if you'd like to experience the holiday of a lifetime do check out the fabulous safari to the South Luangwa Valley in Zambia with the Bushcamp Company, who operate six exclusive camps in the park.
In 2013 there is an equally exciting, albeit colder, trip!
Have you been enjoying outstanding new BBC series "Frozen Planet"? Do you want to experience some of these extraordinary locations for yourself? (without having to spend two or three months in a tent, you'll be glad to hear!). I'll be leading a fabulous trip in 2013 to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica for Steppes Discovery from 29th January – 19 February 2013.
On a more local note, I'm honoured and delighted to have been asked to be a patron of Chester Zoo's new wildlife conservation charity "Act for Wildlife", along with TV vet and adventurer Steve Leonard. I went to school in Chester and recently moved back to the area, so look forward to working closely with Chester Zoo and Act for Wildlife on various exciting projects around the globe.
After warming up in Zambia in May, followed by Japan in June, I'll be cooling down again with a few weeks in the Arctic with Silversea Expeditions in Svalbard and Franz Josef Land in July and August.
Then from October to December I will be travelling onboard Orion in Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and the sub-Antarctic.
So it's shaping up to be an exciting and wonderful year!
